In the last few posts, we have addressed the when and where of Christ’s Transfiguration. The next question is the following: Why the Transfiguration? We know that the event was at the end of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee region. This event now marks the beginning of another focus of Christ on his earthly mission. After coming down from the mountain, he teaches for the last time in Capernaum, then goes through Samaria also teaching, and then goes to Jerusalem where he teaches at the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). The rest of his ministry, about six months, was in Judea and Perea. Going forward, he doesn’t return to the Galilee region.

Christ’s Transfiguration was not talked about until after Christ’s resurrection. Jesus told Peter, James, and John the following:

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (Mt 17:9)

Once Christ left the Galilee region, he did not return, so for him to have this event occur on Mt. Hermon, it had to be at this time because he would not be coming back to this region. It was important for the disciples to focus on this event later, but not now. Discussion now would only be a distraction to his new focus: his crucifixion. He had much to still teach them before his crucifixion and did not want them to become distracted from what they now needed to focus on. Christ’s crucifixion was something new to them as well. While, he had mentioned his coming death previously, it was not something the disciples dwelt on or understood. Now, they would need to. Besides, they did not understand Christ’s Transfiguration and all would be speculation on their part at this time. It would make sense to them only after his resurrection. Therefore, Christ’s Transfiguration was for the benefit of the Early Church and down to us today. It reveals the deity of Christ and validates everything he has spoken.

God gave his disciples physical proof of his deity so they could proclaim who he was with the utmost conviction and be able to tell what they had seen and experienced to give credence to their testimony about him and the gospel message they would be spreading.

Maybe Jesus was also making another proclamation—something else that the Gates of Hades could not thwart. Based upon this timeline we discussed earlier, this would put the Transfiguration about two months after Shavuot (Pentecost) and place it in the month Av (July/August). The 15th of Av is known as Tu B’Av, the Day of Love. This was traditionally when the Jewish virgins would avail themselves as being available for matrimony, a precursor to the English tradition of the debutante ball letting society know they were seeking a bridegroom. It has become almost like our Valentine’s Day. Perhaps Jesus used this day to demonstrate and present himself as the bridegroom to his soon-to-be Church. Again, this is something that the Early Church would be able to better understand than the disciples would at this particular time. Peter, James, and John seeing Christ’s divinity would be able to attest to the validity of Christ being the bridegroom and would one day receive his bride, the Church (2Co 11:2; Rv 19:7).

There are other aspects to Christ’s Transfiguration that we need to better understand as well. Why was Moses and Elijah there? Stay tuned. We’ll start to get into this next time. I hope you join me. You may just be surprised.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens